Rotatable derrick



April 17, 1945. Q BERBY ETAL Y 2,374,074

ROTATABLE DERRICK Filed April 22, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 17, 1945. o. L. BERBY Em 22,374,074

ROTATABLE DERRICK i Filed April 22, 1943 4 sheets-sheet '2 3mm 0&1/

JBOMEFW/ April 17, 1945 o. L. BERBY ET AL 2,374,074

v ROTATABLE DERRICK l Filed April 22, 1943- 4 sheets-sheet s April 17, 1945- o. L. BERBY ET Al. 2,374,074

RO TATABLE DERRI C K Filed April l22, 194s 4 sheets-sheet 4 F .Il 30 4%/ gg 1 H51 Ufwmg m2917029 y/. @515. M nell-;

Y and also to lower Patented Apr. 17, 1945 assignors to VVClyde v-Iron vWorksi Minn., a corporation of Minnesota,`yv ,fj M y Appueaiionap'nl2z,1943,-syiaiivdfisfgossj1 l16 claims.- ((31.21'2--5'95` Our invention relates to an improvement rotatablederricks whereinit is desiredgto provide anovel vtype of derrick particularly adapted to bev mounted on the deck of a boat. e I Iti has become necessary or desirable to provide a derrick which may be rotatablymountedona supporting platform and which may be lmovedy longitudinally upon the deck of a boat so that the-"boat may be unloaded- Without thefuse'of'a derrick mounted upon the shore'. This'derrick is particularly useful in the transferring yof 'cargo n from one boat-to another and for'unloading'thev boat where dock facilitiesy are not available'.

Several difficulties prevent the use of the usual type of .rotatable derrick or VWhirley upon -the deck of a boat. `lin the rst placev the A-'fraine structure of such derricks usually projects 'con'-A siderably above the top of the operatingv Vc'ab,

thereby interfering with proper visionl'fi'om the.

wheel house ofthe boat. vlurthermore thislerect A-frame structure raises the center of gravity ofv sides'in'the'p vision "of a novel means vof 4 regulatingthev movement' ofthe "derrick along the deck oithejboatlfvviiiie loading oruynlqadmg cargo th'enh/ange in th'elload distributionwill' likely cause' afore andaft tilt of the boat'vvitl'i dangeroi the derrlk slipping onits supporting track;Y 4To eliminate this 'danger we provide a supporting track;v

the derrck, making the same more difiic'ultfto hold 'stationary in rough weather. 'Furthermore A'the boom of such derricks is ordinarily `I'iivoteil to the base of the hoisting mechanismfplatfo'rm which makes it diflicult for thevderrick to'lift a load to the dock or boat at a considerably higher level than the deck of the boat on. which the derrick is mounted. f lIt is the object of ,the present invention to provide a rotatable derrick with al suitable A-frame projecting above the top ofthe hoisting mechanism compartment and to pivotally' secure this A-frame so that it may beffolded down when not inuse.f As a result the A-frame, when inerected position, can properly support' the boom, 4whilefat the same time when not in use the AA-rame may be folded down to prevent obstructionofvisi'on lthe center of l gravity f the derrick. a l

`4vA feature of'the'present inventionv lies in the provision of a pivotally mounted `A-frame which is'secured to the boom by means of a iixedfiexible connection and-to 'provide a suitable.` line. 'for erecting the A-frame into elevated positioni'Thus the boom may be raisedandlovve'red by pivoting the A-frame While the angle between the A-frani and the boom remains constant. In other words.

A-frame sothat-the A-frame ymay berais'ed'iand lowered with the boom. .1. l :A further feature of the presentinventionvret,A Tfurther ,feature of the4 present invention re'- which the cab or hoisting rne'ihanisrn'platforml o'ftliefde'rri lis? mountedj" 'The cross `section of the track'irlei f v and lower flanges 'machined' 'on ataperfto Vengage the tapered' rollers-supporting "the hoisting? mechai'sm. The'A tk ircl'` being 'securely fastened tothe base -i'tii foie able to resist both-upward rollers. Thisfeature provides stability fori-the' loaded 'de'rrick "witlout `tlie `vvuse of 'counterbalance iiii'ght' ff-trie' derrick and-permits 'carryingf that muchadditional cargo.

*PAfffur'th'er 'featurejof lthe present invention-ra i 'side'S inthe "provision uffa" sliding cupola upon v thehis'ting line must pass 'in order to permit the.

LIii"brd'erto' eompensateforthis lateral movenientY of the cable jduring fthe hoisting operation, we provide a fleeting sheavewmountedupon-f a 1 Iianger'frane supportedfabovethe c'ab' roof. This fleeting sheave'fisffreet'o move laterally" upon its supporting shaft.' `An 'elongated' opening is provided Jirithecab loof "through whichthe hoisting cblemaypass; A cupola is secured 'to the sheave for lateralniovement therewith,a'nd this ycupola covers fthe :elongate'd'fopening*through the cab roof' The'cu'pola'isfsubstantially Wider 'than the elongated=- "openingt so "that-'thefopening through .the "cali vrof iis at'all` .tirzciesco'veredV byzthe cupola regardless of the angularity of the hoisting'icable. In preferred form.'a"angeiorframe encircleslthe vs'etjgiosition longitudinally offits V kennel' shape with the upperlsame, as' is usual practice'. WithI this rionstruotion` `4 the base of the boom iselevatedsuilloiently to allow the boon to swing free of an adjoiningships rail or other obstacles While suspending the load at the proper operating radius. I

A further feature of the present ifesldes in the provision oa swivel supporting the 1` boom point sheave. This swivel allows the boom point sheave and block hanger to align them selves with the load when the boom is tilted due to the list of the boat. This feature eliminates transverse stresses in the bloclc hanger and elimi-v natesl .torsional stresses inthe boom. j

These and` other objects and novell features ot our invention will be more clearly and fiy set forth inthe following speci'cation and claims.` v

Inthe drawings tanning cation.: c KK Figure 14 is a diagrammatic elevational view showing. our derrick. in operation.

Figure 2 is a sideelevational view of, our dez:- riclr.r showing in full linesthefboom erectedand showing in dotted outline the boom ia lowered position.. Figure: 3" is a top plan View ot the lus-tratedin Figure 1f. t ,l

Figure 4 is a diagramirmtic'from;I elevational view of the deriicli:` with the becuase-trame, and hanger frames removedthereirom. j `'I'iiruxse .5 isl a` sectional viewpthrcugh one' oil thefderrick trucksv showing the manuerin which the truck is attached` to the supporting. rail and a partof our speci.-

derniclc ii showingl the manner in which. the truck is propolled. .t

Figure 6 is a' side elevational.` .view ofA one of the dcrrick supporting trucks, av portion., ohthe driving vgear having `been broken` awayv to show the construction thereof.

Figure 'l is atop planview` of the boom point showing the swivel support furthe boom point sheave.

Figure 8 isa sectionalview of; the boom point; ther position of the section. being illustrated by the line 8-8' of Figure 7. I

Figure 9' is a front elevational viewof a` slidable cupola mountedy over the cab roof.` .i

Figure i0 is ay sectional view through the operating cupola. shown in Figure 9. v

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken onfa ver tical plane `through the carrlagefsupportingfthe hoistingV mechanwn frameV upon its circular track.

Figure 12 is a top plan View" of the carriage illustrated in Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the boom amnection withthe cab ot the derrick.

The derrieki A isV in preferred form mounted upon` a pair of spaced rails IU secured to the surface ii of the 4decir of. a boat or the like. As best seen in Figures l and 4 ot the drawings, the derri'ck. is preferably mounted upon the raised portion I li of.' the deck,y the edge portions. i2' thereorproviding walks on either side-ot .the derriok between the derricl: andthe side rails ll'of the boat B. l Y

The derriclr A is mounted uporr two pairs vci' sitions of which are indicated in Figurej 3 of thel drawings. In preferred form the carriages Il and lf3- are located on opposite sides of the platform and cab D near the rear end thereof, while the other equalized carriages I9 and 20 are located on eitherside-of the center near the front of the cab'and platformD.'

wardly-near the front end of the platform D to act as a support for the boom 22. the A-irame 23?, and* one end of the hanger frames 24. As illustrative. of a manner in which this connection maybe formed thev top of the frame 2| isy illus@ trained; in Figure 13 of the'drawings as-ineludlng an upright bracketV 2liy arranged on a substantially vertical plane to which the. bifurcated end 26"of the boom 22 is connected. The end 23er., one side of the boom. 22. is connected .to the bracket 25 byineans of a suitable pivot device 21, The oppositek side oi the boomv is similarly connected to the other side ofthe frame 21|. The. bracket 25 isalso provided with a suitable pivot hole 23 by means of which the supporting standard 2lmay loeconnected` tothe forward endof changer frame 24. A

. A pair of oppositely disposed substantially triangular plates 30,y are. welded or otherwiseaflxed to the end 26 of the boom 22, and these-plates Share; provided with aligned pivot openingsf'l; to accommodate a pivot 32' connecting.` the boom- Witlr one side ofy the A-fra-me 23. As Will be noted in Figure 3 of the drawings,l the A-frame issub stantially A-shaped in formation, and opposite ends of the base of the A arej pivotally connected tothe-plates 30;

A; supporting bracket 33 is mounted A-frarne 23 and is rigidly attached theretoV infamy sui-tablemanner. This bracket, 33 is. engageable with the upper surface of theVV boom in lowered position of the A-frame, as will be later described upon the suchas to the block 40. The block 39 is supe` ported by a hanger 4I to the boom point, while the block Illy is provi-decl with a hook 42 or other suitableimplement.

A block-43 is mounted at the apex of the. A- frame 23 and a hanger line 44 extends between the block 43 and a c'ooperable block 45 in the fra-me 24, the forward end of'which is pin con nected to the brackets 25 by pivots 4B; Thearear errd of the hanger frame` 24 is pin connected'att 4l to vertically extending frame 49 which is'pin commented at 50 to the hoist mechanism platform The hanger line '44 extends between the blocks 431-and 45 and passes over the sheave 52 to the boom hoist 53A mounted upon the hoistingk mech# anism' platform 5Iv Within the cab 54. The'hoist line 35 extends over the sheave 34' on thev JA- frame 23 and passes over the iieeting sheave 55 mounted between the hanger frames 24 andA the roof of the eab -54 l.extending downwardly: into vany other suitable means.

the cabto the load hoist 56.. Provided'within the cab54 is a swinger unit' 51v bymeans of'which the hoist may be rotatedto any desired position. This swinger unit operates a shaft 59 supporting a pinion 60 which causes' rotation of the gear 6I. The gear 6| is mounted upon the shaft 62 of a pinion 83 which engages teeth on the rail circle to rota-te the platform and cab D in either direction. Obviously by operation'of the swinger 51 the gear may be koperated to rotate: the pinion 63 which acts to engage the rail circle and to rotate the cab.

. The supporting trucks C are constructed as best illustrated in Figures and 6 of the drawings. The trucks: are positioned beneath thel corners 64 of the frame I4. Each corner 64 is connected through the equalizer support 65 to the equalizer shaft'or pin 66. A pair of side plates 61 forming a, part of the truck are centrally supported upon the yequalizershaft 66;- The equalized trucks are providedwith spaced transversely extending shafts 69. The supporting wheels are, supported upon the shafts 69 and ride upon the rails I0. f

In order to prevent the truck from Araising from the rails when a tendencyis provided for the derrick to tilt, we lprovide a transverse shaft 1I extending through a depending lug on each.. truckv 61 to support a depending casting 12.` This casting 12 extends down into close proximityV with the head of the rail I0 and apair of opposedhook-shaped fianges 13 extend down beneath the head of the rail to grip the head in case a tendency for the truck seat to raise from the vrail. is provided. '1 Mounted upon the-shaft'li we provide a gear 14 which is provided with a hub 15 encircling the shaft 66 and held in placeA by a bolt-16'V or The gean|14 includes a series of gear teeth 11 and a second set of sprocket teeth'19 in laterally spaced relation' thereto. The gear teeth 11 are designed for engagement with the pinion 80 mounted upon a transverse shaft 8| which also supports a gear 18. T'he gear teeth 19 are designed vto engage between spaced rollers 82 mounted upon bolts or rivets 83 extending between two spaced strips 84 mounted on edges adjacent the deck surface |I. The two upright strips 84 'with their connecting bolts 83 form a rack for engagement wit the teeth 19 of the gear 14. A motor 85 is mounted upon the frame |4 and thismotor is gear connected to a shaft 86. A pinion 88 on the shaft 86 drives the gear18'on the shaft 8|.v The pinion 80 on the shaft 8|'v drives the gear 11, also driving the sprocket teeth 19 and moving the derrick along the deck. As the hoist line is Wound upon the drum'of theloa'd hoist 56 theline Will move from one end to the other of this drum. As'thev line. passes through the roof of the cab it is desirable to have some sort of shield for the elongated opening through which the cable must pass to preventwater from entering the cab 54. .i In order to accomplish this result we use the structure best illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings. The hanger frames 2.4: are. provided with a pair of downwardly extending plates 81 Vbetween which extend a shaft 89 upon which is supported the fleeting sheave 55. Mounted on either side of the sheave 55 and depending down` wardly from the shaft 89, we provide a pair Vof plates 90 which are spaced from the sheave 55 by suitable` spacing means 9|.A A cupola 91'v is supported by the plates 90, this cupolacomprising a curved upper surfacej 93 designed Ato nt about thesheaver55, an inclined plate .94 forming' the back of the cupola, a flatfplate 95 secured to the lower extremities of the plates 93 and 94,` and askirt 96 depending from the plate 95." The hoist line or cable extends through a sleeve 91 between the plates 93 and 94C and;

through anopening 99.in the plate 95; The spacing means 9| are guided by the fieeting sheaveand cause the cupola 92 to eetwith the sheave. v

A11 opening |00 in the cab roof is elongated sufficiently to take care of the angularity of the line 35 passingto the drum of the load hoist 56. A frame I0I projects upwardly from the cab roof |02 encircling the opening |00. The frame I0| is shown as formed of channel ironl with the base of the channel inwardly and flush with the sides of the opening |00, while the sides of the channel extend on parallel horizontal planes. In operation the cupola is of substantially larger size than the frame |0I so as to permit the necessary lateral movement or fleeting of the cupola 92 with the sheave 55. 'As the skirt 96 extends downwardly into overlapping relation withthe frame I0I,4 little Water can enter the cab. At the same ltime free movement of the cable through the roof is permitted.

In Figures 11 `and l2l of the dra'wings we disclose one ofthe equalized trucks for supporting the mechanism platform and cab D. As each of the trucks I1, I8, I9and 20 are identical in form-the carriage illustrated is designated as .the-carriage l1, it being understood thatgthe carriages I8; I9 and 20 areof similar formation.

A plate |03 extends beneath the frame 5| ,of the hoisting mechansmvplatform and a pair of Y of laterallyextending wings or flanges |09 and a second pair of parallel laterally extending flanges I I0. Roller axles extend through the wings |09 and II0. The axis of each roller axle extends radially from the `center of curvature of the rail circle |5. The ends of the roller axles III support rollers ||2. l

The railcircle I5 hasteeth ||6 on its outer surface to cooperate with the pinion 63 in rotating the platform and cab D. The rail circle I5 is substantially "channel-shaped in crosssection having a laterally extending upper flange II1and a -laterally extending lower flange ||9 upon vwhichV the rollers I|2 operate. The flange I I1 prevents raising of the roller II 2 while the Weight of the derrick 'is' normally sup-ported by the flange ||9.

' It will be noted 'thatv whenthe derri'ck is in use theA-frame 23 is elevated by the boom;v raising the hanger line 44,-and elevations'ofk the boom. are adjusted Iby means of this hanger line 44. A cable' |20 connects'the vapex'of the A-frame 423 with the boom point 31 -so that the A-frame and tlieboom pivot in unison until it is desired to lower` the Aframe. Thehoist line 35may be operated to lift the load and the hoisting mecha-l nism platform and cabD may be pivoted to any desired position.

When the derrick is notin use tie rods 'such as I2| may Ibe provided to securel the platform 5| to the frame I4. The A-frame23 is pivoted by releasing the tension on the hanger line 44 until the boom 22 is inthe lowered position illustrated in' dottedoutline inll'igurez of the drawings 'At' this'p'oint oftheirotation the A'franrer23: isposi-l tionedforwardly' of the vertical position so that. by further lcontrolled release 'of the hanger line- 44 the A-frarne' 23 may be loaf-erect the bracket 33 rests upon the 'upper surface of the boom 22. l

The bracket 33 is provided. so that the hanger line 44 may stillbe operated toy raise the A- frame. Obviously if the A-frame 23 pivoted to. too great an extent the hanger line 44 would dropi below the' shaft 32 and the hanger line could not operate to' lift the A-fra'me. When'the boom 22 is in lowered position it maybe secured to the. deck by. suitable anchors suclr as |22, thus pre.-4

venting any movement of the boom with respect to the deck; Y l

Then sheave 35 is mounted" upon a shaft |23 which is supported between parallel sides' |24v of a swivel frame |25. The frame 25 is.- provided with a pair of aligned pivots |26 having their axes extending longitudinally of the. boom 22. These pivots are mounted inv the cross members |21 and |29 of the braunA point 31. Thus'. if the load supported by the sheave 33 swings to one side or tothe other of a vertical plane, the sheave swivels with its frame so that the axis of the sheave remains at right angles to the plane of the load line depending from the sheave.

The novel boom mounting: makes it possibleto maintain a low center of gravity, and at the same time to use the derrick for transferring heavy materials to or from a level substantially above the deck level of the'bcat' on which the derrick is mounted. The `relative position of tvvolboats B and E is shown in Figure 1, this figure diagrammatically showing the advantage of thederrick construction. It will beI noted that the deck of the |boat E is Well. above the top of the derrick cab D of the derrick A onthe boat B. l

In accordance with the patent statutes, We have described the principles of construction and' operation of our derrick, and While We have endeavored to setforth the best embodiments thereof, We desire to have -it understood that obvious changesmaybe' made Within the scope of the followingclaims Without departing from the spirit of our invention.

1. 'A derrick comprising a rotatable. platform, a boom pivotally secured to said platform, an A- frame pivotally secured to said platform, a flexible connector of fixed length connecting the apex of said A-frame and the point of the boom, and

means for pivoting said A-frame and boom in unison, the length of said connector being such that when said b'oom is pivoted slightly above horizontal position, said A-framer is inclined ibeyond vertical position.

2. A derrick comprising a. platform, a boom pivotally secured to said platform, a fram-e pivotally secured to said platform adjacent said boom, means connecting the free end of said frame to said bocmat a point spaced from said pivotal connection between the boom and said platform, and means for pivoting said. frame and 'boom in unison, the length of said connecting means being such that when the boom is pivoted slightly above horizontal position,` said A-frame is in clined beyond vertical position.

- 3. -A derrick comprising a rotatable platform, a boom pivotally secured to said platform, a frame element pivotally secured at one end to said boom,` means connecting the free end of said frame and said' boom at apoint spaced from the pivotal connection .between said 'boom yandi said platform, andmeans for raising and lowering Asaid boom may ice raised and l'ovvere-d'.

said:v boom and saidv frame in umson; 'the length of said 4connecting-rn-eans being sucnthat when the Iboom isf pivoted slightly above horizontal position, saldi A-frame is inclined beyond vertical position.v

4. A dem'ck comprising a rotatable platform, a 'boom'pivotally securedtol said platform.;` a frame. pivoted to: said platform-adjacent said xboompa flexible connecting means connecting. the free endy 'of said frame with said boom at a point substan-t tially spaced from the pivotal connection between said: boom and said platform, means for pivotl ingl said boom and said frame in. unison, said frame being pivoted against said boom when said derrick-is not in use, the length of. said connect ing meansbeing such that when the boom is pivotedL slightly above horizontal position, saidA- frame is'inclined beyond. vertical position.

5i A derrick comprising a rotatableplatform, a boom pivotally secured to said platform, an A frame pivotally'secured to said platform adjacent said boom connection,.a iiexiblezconnecting means connecting the. apex of said'A-frame With the point of the boom, a :bracket on said A.frarne, said: A-frame being foldable with respect to said boom so that said bracket rests against said boom.

6, A derrick comprising 'a rotatable platform, a boom pivotally secured to said platform, a. frame plvotally securedto said platform adjacent said boom,. hanger frame means connected to said platform` adjacent said boomv and connected at its opposite end to' said platform, flexible means connesting said frame and said boom to .hold said frame and said boomfin'a predetermined angular relationship' during operation of the-boom, said hangerframe means and said frame lsupporting suitable block means, and-.a hanger linefexten'ding from said block. means by means of which '7. A derrick including. a rotatable platform, a cab mounted. upon saidy platform, a `frame on one side of said platform adjacent one endl of said cab extending above the'level of the cab,` `a boom pivotally secured to said frame, an `A-frame pivotally secured to said frame, hanger frame means connected at one end to said frame and at its other end to 'said platform, coo-perabley blocks on said hanger frame means and saidrA'-fran1e, a line extending through said blocks by means of which said A-frame may be raised and lowered, and a iiexifble connection between said A-frame and said boom to hold said Iboom and A-frame in xed relation While the boom is in operation.

8. A derri'ck comprising a supporting frame, a track circle mounted upon said frame; a series of equalized carriages mounted on said rail circle, a rotatable cab and platform supported'by said equalizer carriages, each of said carriages includin-g roller means, and said rail circle being channel-shaped-in cross section Withone side ofthe channel extending over the roller means and the other side of the -channel extending' beneath the roller means, said roller means and cooperating the bodyv and a shaft on each roller supporting of the carriage.

10. A rotatable derrick platform .support comprising a supporting frame, a rail circle being channel-shaped incross section and including inwardly extending side flanges in superimposed relationship, a carriage bracket extending down- Wardly from the platform, a pair of radially extending shafts supported by said bracket in spaced relationship, and a pair of rollers on said shafts extending between the flanges of said rail circle, said rollers being tapered toward a point at the center of the circle.

11. A rotatable platform support for a derrick comprising a supporting frame, a rail circle mounted upon said frame, said rail circle being -channel-shaped in cross section with two inwardly extending superimposed flanges, a'bracket extending downwardly from the platform, an equalizing body centrally pivotedto said bracket,

a pair of radially extending shafts oppositely disposed on either side of said bracket supported by said body, and rollers on said shafts engaged between the flanges of said railcircle, said rollers being tapered toward a point at the :center of the circle.

12. A ship derrick designed for use upon the deck of a ship or the like, comprising a pair of rails mounted in parallel relationship longitudinally of the deck, a frame supported upon said rails, cooperable means on said frame and said deck to prevent slipping of said frame along said rails, a platform rotatably mounted upon said frame, a b'oom pivotally secured to said platform, and an upwardly extendingv A-frame on said platform pivotally secured to said platform to pivot down against said boom when not in use.

13. A ship derrick designed to be mounted upon f the deck of a ship comprising a pair of longitudinally extending lines on the deck of the ship, a frame mounted on said lines for longitudinal movement thereupon, a `platform rotatably mounted upon said frame, a derrick mounted upon said platform, a rack on said de ck extending longitudinally thereof and parallel to said rails, and gear means on said frame engageable with said rack, said gear means being operable upon rotation to move said frame, platform, and derrick longitudinally of said deck.

14. In combination With a derrick having a platform, a boom pivotally secured thereto, Va frame extending upwardly from said platform,'a cab on said platform, and a line extending from said frame through the roof of said cab, a cable `guide comprising a transverse shaft, a sheave mounted for transverse movement along said shaft over which said line may extend, and a cupola supported by said shaft laterally slidable with said sheave, said cab roof having an opening therethrough over which said cupola extends.

16. A derrick including a derrick platform, hoisting mechanism mounted thereupon, a cab over said hoisting mechanism, a cab roof having an opening therethrough, a line from said hoistv ing mechanism extending through said opening, a sheave laterally adjustably mounted above said cab roof to guide said line passing through said opening, an upwardly extending frame on said cab roof encircling said opening, and a cupola laterally adjustable with said sheave encircling 40' said frame.

OLA L. BERBY. ROBERT P. FOIX. 

